MPs on the list of politicians accused of sexual harassment are instructing solicitors to “gag” journalists and stop the allegations from coming out, according to a Bristol MP.

Labour’s Darren Jones has called on the Government to reveal what it is doing to ensure the voices of victims are not “silenced due to legal process”.

Westminster has been rocked in recent days after a 40-strong list – put together by Conservative Party researchers and staff – emerged detailing the names of MPs and six Cabinet ministers who have allegedly acted inappropriately towards their staff or are having affairs in Parliament.

One unnamed MP is said to be nicknamed "Copperfeel", while researchers advised colleagues not to get into lifts alone with others.

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Married Welsh Tory MP, Stephen Crabb, an ex-Bristol University student and once a Tory leadership hopeful, has already admitted to sending sexually explicit messages to a teenage woman who had unsuccessfully applied for a job in his office.

The committed Christian told the Daily Telegraph he had text her "some pretty outrageous things" that "basically amount to unfaithfulness".

Stephen Crabb, Tory MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, has admitted 'abusing his position' with a 19-year-old woman

Trade Minister, Mark Garnier, hit headlines after fessing-up to asking a female staff member to buy a vibrator from a sex shop on his behalf. He also admitted to referring to her as “sugar t***” in public.

Mr Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, said he was concerned other accounts of Westminster’s alleged victims were being suppressed, declaring MPs had instructed their solicitors to block the publication of articles in the press.

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“On the way to this debate I overheard two members joking about this issue, asking in humour whether they had fessed up to their sexual harassment,” he said.

“As a man I stand up to call that out. It is not ‘bantz’ – it is unacceptable.”

Darren Jones MP said some MPs were treating the allegations as 'bantz' (Image: Michael Lloyd)

The city MP continued: “I understand that in response to some journalists, by members of this House, presenting testimony from victims with evidence of sexual harassment that those members have responded by instructing lawyers to gag the stories those journalists are pursuing.

“Can the Leader of the House ensure that members of staff that use this service will get access to legal advice? And what will she do to ensure that victims’ voices aren’t silenced due to legal process?”

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Mrs Leadsom replied: “It is vital that we take a grip of this issue, that we look very quickly – and I mean in a matter of days – cross-party at what can be done to establish a proper, independent grievance procedure that all staff across both Houses have access to so that their concerns can be heard, properly investigated and properly acted upon.”

No10 deny that Theresa May was aware of the allegations against her ministers

Earlier she was asked by Labour’s shadow women and equalities minister Paula Sherriff to respond to “the suggestion the Prime Minister receives a briefing every week from – perhaps the Chief Whip – advising of spurious behaviour within the House?”

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Mrs Leadsom responded saying Ms Sherriff should “consider the logic of what she is saying if she really thinks that the Prime Minister would be sitting there chatting with the Chief Whip in the way that she suggests – that is quite clearly not true”.

She added: “I think it is absolutely vital that we all take this seriously and with the proper consideration of the matter which is the allegations against Members of Parliament by their staff.

“Anybody who had prior knowledge of those things would encourage those individuals to go to the police or would provide them with the support that they need.

“There is absolutely no covering up going on.”

John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, said there would be “zero tolerance” of sexual harassment in Parliament.